This book started off with so much action that it immediately drew my attention. Emily A. Duncan's writing style is beautiful and descriptive. This is the kind of book that will suck you in, and you won't be able to put it down until it's finished.

Wicked Saints follows two characters through (in the author's words) "two countries, Kalyazin, which is a Russian analogue, and Tranavia, which is Polish."

The magic system was dark, but entertaining. You have never met a heroine like Nadya before.

One of the things I like most about this book is that it's entertaining and it isn't all action. There is some downtime, which I think makes for a great read!

I can't wait to see where this story goes! I will definitely be continuing this series!

With so many mixed reviews flying around, I was both anxious and excited to dive into Wicked Saints. On the surface it seemed like exactly the kind of book I love, with a Gothic sensibility, horrific elements, blood magic, warring religions and even monsters. And the verdict? I was pleasantly surprised by this book, and even though there are elements that didn’t quite work for me, overall I had fun reading it and I’m invested enough to continue the series.

Nadezhda Lapteva, or Nadya as she’s called, is a cleric, one of the last of her kind who can speak to the gods and channel their magic. Because of a drawn out war between the Kalyazins and the heretical Tranavians, Nadya has been in hiding for years, trying to stay one step ahead of the Tranavians who have nearly killed off all the clerics. But one day, presumably safe in a monastery at the top of the Baikkle Mountains, an alarm goes off. Tranavians have breached the grounds and Nadya must run for her life.

One of the Tranavians, a prince named Serefin Meleski, is searching for a cleric who is rumored to live in the monastery. But before they can find her, Serefin is called home to the palace by his father.And as Nadya runs from her pursuers, she meets a band of rebels who are determined to kill the king in order to stop the war. Nadya reluctantly joins them on the way to the palace, but can she trust the handsome Malachiasz Czechowicz, a blood mage who seems to have an ulterior motive? She’s about to find out, as Nadya, Malachiasz and Serefin converge on the palace, and a centuries old war comes to a head.

Duncan has created a wonderfully Gothic and dark atmosphere, full of morally gray characters who do not always behave the way you expect them to. She’s pulled her character names from the Russian/Slavic culture, which added a nice dimension to her tale. The story revolves around blood magic, and be warned if you’re squeamish when it comes to blood, because this story is dripping with it. The blood mages carry around spellbooks wherever they go, and their magic works by cutting themselves and smearing blood on the pages of the book. Because there is danger at every turn, mages sew razor blades into the sleeves of their jackets so they always have a quick way of drawing blood. The story becomes more and more blood-soaked as it goes along, and to be honest I found myself a little disgusted at times, especially since the characters always seem to have blood dripping down their arms and they are constantly wiping that blood off on their clothing.

Nadya’s magic is of a completely different type. She can speak to all the gods of her religion and by rubbing a particular bead on a necklace, she can ask for their help whenever she needs it. I loved the descriptions of what each god can do for her, although I have to admit I was disappointed when the sections where she talks to the gods stopped halfway through the book. I would have liked that idea developed even more.

I did enjoy Nadya’s character, but in all honesty the star of the show is Malachiasz, a tortured Tranavian who used to be one of the Vultures, blood mages who have misused their power and have literally become monsters, with iron claws and teeth and ferocious, evil powers. Malachiasz is fighting with his monstrous side, and this made his character so much more interesting that everyone else. And fan artists are going to have a field day with him! I’m not even an artist and I could see every paint stroke in my head as I was reading.

I also liked Serefin, the prince who is tired of doing his father’s bidding, and when he discovers his father is hiding a big secret, he wants to distance himself from his heritage even more. I really loved the interactions between Serefin and Nadya, which luckily didn’t stray into a romantic entanglement. (The same cannot be said for the burgeoning romance between Nadya and Malachiasz!) A couple of side characters also added a lot to the story, in particular Malachiasz’s friends Rashid and Parijahan.

I did find the first half of the story to be rather slow and aimless, but at about the halfway point, all the main characters converge in the palace and that’s when the action really takes off. The second half is a breathless, bloody showdown with just about every character facing some kind of mortal danger. I wasn’t sure how I would feel at the end of the story, but I’m actually looking forward to the next book!

4.5

Tranavians and Kalyazins have been in a centuries-long holy war ever since the Tranavians had forsaken belief in the gods, and their power, to harness their own blood magic. Kalyazins view Tranavians as heretics as opposed to their own clerics—those who can commune directly with the gods who in turn imbue them with often unimaginable power. All the clerics are believed to be dead…except one.

Nadezhda Lapteva (Nadya) has been living in secret at a Kalyazin monastery, training until her time comes to be the salvation the Kalyazins believe her to be in the war. But when the monastery is attacked—by the Tranavian High Prince—and Nadya has to flee for her life, she runs into a ragtag group of rebels bent on seeing the war end one way or another—up to and including assassinating the King of Tranavian.

Out of other options, Nadya will have to put her trust in these people, including a mysterious boy with dark magic of his own that makes her start to question the beliefs she’s always held true.

I went into Wicked Saints not knowing what to expect. I honestly don’t think I even gave the blurb anything but a glancing read through, but it was enough that I was interested in reading Emily A. Duncan’s debut. I can only say that I was thoroughly blown away by Wicked Saints.

The world is so realized. The push and pull between the belief in gods or the use of one’s own blood as a source of power is so completely conceptualized.

The narrative switches between Nadya’s perspective and that of the Tranavian High Prince Serefin, and gives readers a good glimpse of both sides of the conflict. While Tranvaians are painted as more of the villains in this one, you come to see where they’re coming from with their beliefs. I loved that Emily A. Duncan was very precise in giving both sides and bringing up good counterpoints to both. You see that sometimes not everyone’s beliefs necessarily align with the side their fighting on.

In this way you also see the characters as more than just good or bad. Depending on which side, you understand that people can inhabit both qualities. Nadya has this immense power from the gods, and she wants to use it to end the war, but how far do you go in your quest? What happens when things she does is in opposition to what she’s been taught about the gods? Can you care for someone who is so openly against all that you believe? There are so many questions to postulate, but to do so would allow for spoilers unfortunately.

Suffice it to say, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in picking up Wicked Saints. Emily A. Duncan was wonderful at keeping the story on track while also throwing out little asides of information that I’m hoping will lead to interesting places in the next book.

Wicked Saints is unlike anything I have read recently. With a totally unique magic system, a host of intriguing characters and some morally grey characters this book sucked me in and kept me hooked. Despite my enjoyment of the book I did have some issues with it. I didn’t love the way that the main character developed or the way her relationship with another character developed. She started out really strong and powerful and then seemed weakened by that relationship. I’m hopeful that in future books she’ll be back to being a badass. I would recommend this book and I am looking forward to book two.

First of all, I'm a sucker for gothic and darker fantasy settings. Also, forbidden romances are my ultimate weakness, to be honest. Aside from that, I love the high stakes, as well as the political and religious intrigue that was prevalent throughout the novel. The atmosphere and the scope reminded my of a mix of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse books, Susan Dennard's Witchlands series, and a little bit one of my adult dark fantasy favourites: Godblind by Anna Stephens. Essentially, it was everything I loved in a fantasy book. Romance, politics, religion, and rebellion. And non of these themes overshadow each other too much.

I wanted to love this book, not just like it. I'm hoping I'll love the next one though. I just found the story in wicked saints slow at times. The author takes so much time explaining the world, differences in lands and introducing new characters plus their backstory. While I enjoy that in a novel, I think it was done in too many different places in the story and while it's helpful to know the history, it pulls you out of what is currently happening. I found the second half a bit smoother and more enjoyable than the first.
While I found those parts made the story less enjoyable, I really liked the plot without those breaks and the characters that were created. They are all different and interesting in their own way. They are what made me enjoy the story. This is why I'm looking forward to the next book. There will be less need to explain the histories of every thing. This definitely a series that has potential to become 5 stars for me in the rest of the trilogy.

Wicked Saints is smart, dark, and a breath of fresh air in the fantasy world. Emily Duncan is surprisingly a debut author and the way Wicked Saints is written, you would think she has been around for decades. If you are a fan of Leigh Bardugo, you will definitely devour this book quickly. The characters and the romance pulls you in and rips your heart out and will leave you wanting the second book in the series instantly. Duncan is a new voice that will for sure be a quick favorite. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Happy book birthday to Emily A. Duncan’s debut novel Wicked Saints, which hit shelves everywhere today.

The first book in the Something Dark and Holy series, Wicked Saints is an action-packed young adult fantasy that follows a girl who talks to gods (all of them), a prince who practices blood magic in the least offensive way possible, and a mysterious boy with a serious rebellious streak.

Ready to learn more about this brand-new novel and celebrate its release? Keep reading for a Q&A with author Emily A. Duncan.

Where did the concept for Wicked Saints come from?

No real specific place or event. I was playing Skyrim and I liked the atmosphere. I wanted to write about a fantasy world styled after Eastern Europe. I wanted to write about religion. I wanted to write a book that feels like listening to a really good metal song. All these things just eventually made their way into the book.

Which point of view did you have the most fun writing?

Oh, Nadya, even though her point of view is definitely the harder one for me. But I like how she interacts with the rest of the cast, and I love writing her arguments with Malachiasz. Also she has the romance arc of the book and I do love writing romance.

What can fans expect to see in book two?

Take the weirdness that happens at the end of Wicked Saints and it’s that for 500 pages. It’s a cosmic horror road trip through a forest that wants to eat you. We see the Salt Mines and more of Kalyazin. There’s more blood, more pedantic arguments about the nature of divinity, more melodrama. Also a fabulously bi occult military princess that I am very excited for everyone to meet. 🙂

Intrigued? Wicked Saints is now available for purchase in bookstores everywhere!

Wicked Saints is definitely something dark and maybe a little holy. I found this story intriguing and yet it lacked real intensity for me as reader to invest in these characters journey. Nayda was a heroine who is suppose to be the savior, but as the story went on her destiny takes a weird turn. Everyone in the very beginning is hunting her down and then all of a sudden they just up and change plans.

Malachiasz is a blood mage who has a pretty twisted back story and yet his character arc was the most appealing although we got no pov from him. I found him to really come off the pages the best out of the three main character. Prince Serefin is another blood mage who I found intriguing as well maybe do to his disability by being blind in one eye really gave him some depth that really stood out for why he is the way he is as well as his drinking problem.

I really enjoyed the idea of all the little archive history note of passed god blessed clerics who were given divine power by the gods who found them worthy patrons. The Gods element of why these two nations are at war with each other does bring a darkness to the story. However I think for me this story lack challenges for these characters or they got over them so quickly. The pace of the story was great, but yet things felt sometimes anti climatic. Overall the retelling is fascinating and hopefully in the next book Nayda will pop off the pages just a little more, so I won't forget that she is the catalyst for this story.

I FINALLY have a new dark, gritty atmospheric world to love!

This was an awesome debut that had me flipping through the pages as fast as I possibly could. I can't even remember the last time I was so blown away by the first chapter by a book, but when I finished chapter one I knew this as going to be good.

I loved the world that the author created and how unapologetic and bloody it was. I won't lie I struggled a bit with the names and the pacing towards the end of the book, but I still ended up loving this and a few new monsters who hold a very special place in my heart.

I can't wait to see where the next two books will take us !

Review will be posted 4/4/19

Nadya lives in monastery in a remote village. She isn't your usual teenager though; she can speak to all the Gods which is rare. The priests know Nadya is special and are hoping she will be an unrivaled weapon in the Holy War, which is why she is training at the monastery. However, before the priests can finish training her training, they are attacked by their enemies. Leading the attack is Serefin, a prince, who can preform dark magic, and holds many secrets of his own. Can Nadya really stop the war and save her people like they all had hoped? Emily A. Duncan's Wicked Saints is an action packed young adult fantasy for fans who enjoy dark magic, adventure, and corrupt kingdoms.

Nadya is an interesting character right off the bat in Wicked Saints. I liked that she's fierce, independent, and holds a lot of power. She can talk to not only her patron God, but all the Gods, which makes her a force to be reckon with. Who doesn't love a little girl power? Whereas Serefin was a bit more complex. I did feel badly that he has to deal with his crazy and power hungry father, but I didn't always agree with his decisions. For starters, every time he uses his magic, he has to shed blood. That's right. Blood. Yikes. Chapters alternate from both Nadya and Serefin's perspectives, so readers will get to know both characters well, although I will admit that I had hoped Duncan would have fleshed them out a bit more.

The setting, although a little confusing at times, was really unique in Wicked Saints. Duncan created a world that that felt a bit inspired by Russia. The churches, the complex names, the blood magic, and the Gods all added to a memorable and atmospheric setting.

So, Wicked Saints was a bit darker than I was expecting. It's pretty action packed and in turn, can be very violent for a young adult novel. There are some definite o-m-g moments and don't get me started about that ending! So, if you like your YA fantasies a bit more action packed and cutthroat, definitely check out Wicked Saints. It is the start of a new trilogy that I think fans of darker high fantasies will enjoy.

I was immediately drawn to Wicked Saints because of the unique sounding magical system and talk of political intrigue. Those two things are delivered fantastically in this debut. The book starts off fast and really doesn’t let up. I was caught up in the story and characters very quickly.


The book is told through two points of view, Nadya and Serefin. They both play important roles on opposing sides of an epic war. I found the feud between the countries and religions very interesting. I loved that Nadya was able to grow and become a bit more understanding as the story goes on. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface on Serefin’s character. I can’t wait to learn more about him.


There’s a pretty fantastic slow burn romance in Wicked Saints. I was definitely invested in that story line! I loved Malachiasz! He was probably my favorite character in the book. The bad boy attitude and air of mystery made him very captivating. I bet you will love him too.


My favorite element of the book was the magic. It seems hard to find a unique take on magic in YA fantasy these days. Wicked Saints is one of the most unique I’ve came across in years. Nadya communes with her Gods and Goddesses and they lend her their power. Serefin is a remarkable blood mage who uses his blood and spell books to achieve great magic. So basically, Emily A. Duncan has created two amazing magic systems in one book!


Wicked Saints was an exceptional debut. The world building and magic left me in awe. It’s going to be a long wait for book two!

*Thanks to @netgalley @wednesdaybooks for an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Think Victorian spires and gargoyles. Think shards of glass and rusted nails scattered in burned out hulls. Think white snow turning the deepest crimson. And, feeling the darkest of all darkness in the blackest night. Welcome to #WickedSaints by Emily A. Duncan @glitzandshadows

Summary**
A girl, Nadya, raised in a monestary. She is the only known cleric in existence, meaning she was chosen by the gods as a vessel to communicate, and do their bidding. Nadya's mission is to save her country, Kalyazin,from the heretics who practice blood magic in Tranavia. One day, her home is attacked by the Tranavian high prince, Serefin, and his army. Nadya is too valuable to die, so she flees. In her flight, she chances upon Rashid and Parijahan, Akolans fleeing their country, and a mysterious boy named Malachiasz. Nadya immediately distrusts him. Realizing they all want the Tranavian king dead, they take refuge in an abandoned church. Soon, they are attacked. Obviously, some fighting and other things occur, but no spoilers. They form a plan to get into Tranavia, and kill the king, thus, allowing Nadya to end blood magic, and restore the gods. We learn that Malachiasz is a Tranavian blood mage, ergo, a heretic. Persuasively, he causes Nadya to question her beliefs about her power and about Malachiasz. Who is he? Enemy or friend? What are his motives?
At the same time, Serefin is called home from the war for an overblown tradition to choose a wife. When he arrives in Tranavia, he begins to have suspicions about many things. Is he just being paranoid? Will Nadya and Malachiasz succeed? Is Malachiasz who he appears to be or a liar? Is Nadya's power true, or are her beliefs mistaken?

My Thoughts**
I can't even begin to explain the inner turmoil over this story. I expected some dark magic and diety worship at opposites while saving the world. What I found was a revelation of a new very dark world rendered even more so because of the grayscale dismally cold eastern European vibe. It gave me chills. From beginning to end it's atmospherically haunting. The big question is who do you believe? These characters live and breath and stand beside you all day long, even when you hate them. Nadya and Malachiasz are so volatile and intense it's insane. Like a force of nature. The dialogue is pure heart pounding exhaustion, and I'm hanging on every word. The religious arguments made me question who is actually right. Is one belief system better than the other, or are they simply different? Still, any differences will never be tolerated by the opposition. The love hate relationships are sinfully steamy. Motives are maddeningly unclear. The ending left me numbly devastated. Wanting to throw something. Yeah, it's the kind of story that you live in for days oblivious to everything else, until you are suddenly cast out into reality. Just brutal! It's so unexpected and original. It destroyed me, but I devoured it all the same. Read it! You'll be sorry if you miss out on Wicked Saints.

Hello dangerous tale with an amazingly dramatic grand finale. Fans of Dark YA Fantasy, be sure to add this to your TBR, you won't be disappointed. So dark, so bloody and so good! Emily A. Duncan wrote one unique world and plot. Her plot twist left me anxiously awaiting book 2.

Warning: Self mutilation / harm (blood magic).

**Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through Netgalley. All opinions are my own. **

WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!

This has been one of my most anticipated releases of 2019 - and it completely exceeded my expectations! I am so glad to have gotten this beautiful book! It filled the gap in my heart that was left by the ending of the Bardugo Grishaverse, and I can safely say I will be 1-clicking the rest of this series as they go live for pre-order! The writing was stunning and completely brilliant. I absolutely devoured this story and nearly died when I reached the end - I couldn't believe it! The plot points and big reveals were phenomenal. I can't say I ever saw any of it coming.

Duncan owns my heart now and I can't wait to see what these characters do next! Nadya is amazing, of course! A talented girl who can speak to the gods and wield their magic? Totally impressive. She's also hilariously funny - her banter with the gods is comical. And Malachaisz - the blood mage - just...whew! He's dark and beautiful and surprising and obviously hiding an assload of secrets! I loved him even though I knew I shouldn't because something was going on in that stunning mind of his. And boy, I sure was not disappointed.

Moral ambiguity - do you love it or would you rather more black and white personalities? You'll be very happy with this novel if you love a characters with questionable morals. I honestly love when characters are little..twisted and they make it hard for the reader to figure out their motivations. These aren't your traditional characters - Duncan has taken this fantasy to a new level and created a unique and compelling story.

While there is a hell of a lot going on, this dark, twisty novel is, at it's heart, about a war between religions (differences) and how that has impacted the shaping of their world. While both sides are similar, one side feels they were justified by the gods, while the other depended on their innate power. It's interesting to see the power plays among acquaintances and interconnectedness of various characters in the story (because I can't wait to see how certain things play out!).

I have honestly thought about this book SO MUCH since I finished reading it. I'll definitely be reading it again. I feel like my words don't do this beautiful book the justice it deserves, but you MUST GO BUY IT IN ALL FORMS! I have the audiobook that I cannot wait to start on asap... I only wish I could rate this higher than FIVE STARS.

Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan has been a book that has a lot of hype. Dark magic, deadly adventure, and a girl in the middle who has the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Nadezhda Lapteva, or Nadya, is a cleric in a secluded monastery in the mountains. Nadya is special and can do great things. She can talk to the gods, and her wishes will be granted. And amidst a a holy war raged on the Kalyazin border between Kalyazin and Tranavia, she must do what she can to save her people.

But this story isn’t just about Nadya, Malachiasz is a blood mages, with a monstrous secret. Serefin is a blood mage and a prince in one of the most powerful realms of the world. And in a small Game of Thrones style, his King is ensuring that no one will take his power away from him. The primary characters seem to see themselves as outsiders. They are the most prominent, yet the most integral to the story. They chafe at the way society views them and breaks through their own limitations in their own rite.

While I would say this is an environment with some epic world-building, the story also feels very character-driven. It’s a good balance, with great progression in what feels like an organic flow of the story.

This world is lush and developed, complete with cultural uprising and political turmoil. The land is vast but there is a chill in the environment. There is darkness that you so desperately want to shine a light on. I am intrigued to see where Duncan takes us, in the other books, because what we see in Wicked Saints is probably just a small portion of what she has in store.

This world is crafted with so many details. It was interesting to see how the political aspects and the religion played into the magic system. You have blood magic and granted wishes from the gods. There’s different layers of power, and it was so interesting to see the different intricacies of it all.You see the characters pitting their loyalties to their oaths and duties and then see the effect of a catastrophic event and have that all shattered. There is a trail of events that depict power as told through different viewpoints.

Warning, this book is DARK. Content warning as well. It is very gothic and twisty, and action-packed and Duncan doesn’t hold back punches.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

I ENJOYED it. I LIKED it. I just didn't FEEL it. I'm not sure what I'm missing, but I just didn't FEEL what everyone else seems to be feeling. I enjoyed the unique magical aspect and the story started off strong. The characters were likable enough. I'm a little disappointed because I feel like there was a lot of hype about this book and I just didn't LOVE it like a lot of people did. I even read it twice thinking I may have missed something.

I suppose I would have liked a little more backstory on the characters. There was a bit about Malachiasz and it was explained Nadya doesn't seem to know where she came from. Hopefully in the second novel there will be a little bit more information. I'll definitely continue the series and hope some questions get answered in the second book.

My Review: I was pretty excited about this book, especially with the reference to Joan of Arc as an influence. It started out really great, we get to know Nayda and what she stand for and a bit about her power early on. The world building is great in the beginning, learning about it a little at a time as needed, it does get lost later in the book. I also enjoyed the slower pace at the beginning allowing for plot and characters to develop but things really get rushed about halfway through and about the last quarter of the book all pacing is lost and things get very convoluted. By the end of the book we loose sight of Nayda's power and values. We also end up with, I think, 3 different perspectives but they are very closely connected and often in the same room seeing the same things. The climax of the book also really starts skipping around and I felt like I missed whole chunks of what was occurring and why. The romance was really underdeveloped and kind of thrown in with out much payoff. I was a bit disappointed with this book, it really did start out great but the second half just kind of fell apart and became rushed. I do also hope in the finished copy there is a list of gods/goddesses, map and a pronunciation guide.

My Rating: I was really looking forward to this one, and I am glad I read it. I did really enjoy the world with all the darkness and power, but it just got so confusing near the end. I do think this would make a good audio book. I give it a rating of Two Paws and a Stump Wag.

I loved this book! It grabbed my attention almost immediately and would not let go! The characters were phenomenal and written so well. They were developed perfectly and all stood out in their own way. The pacing was spot on and I was never bored. It was dark and gritty and everything I didn't know I needed! The plot twists left me reeling and I need the next book like yesterday!

This is one of the books I had been looking forward to the most!
It had me hooked from the very beginning. Right into it I loved Nadya's character. I kept wanting to know more about her! I definitely agree with most everyone who says they get a Grishaverse vibe with this book and I do mean that in a great way!
I also enjoyed reading the excerpts at the beginning if every chapter from the various Gods! I thought this entire book was engaging from beginning to end and I loved how the characters developed and how the world is so vividly described that it was easy to imagine what it must look like! I am so thankful I received this ARC! I highly recommend this to all people who love YA fantasy and to those who loved The Grishaverse!